The Philippine Catholic Church has identified seven new martyrs who gave their lives for their faith, most of them victims of persecution in the nation’s south.
The bishops’ conference said that the list was submitted to the Vatican’s Commission on New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith for the Jubilee Year 2025.
CBCP Secretary General Msgr. Bernardo Pantin shared that these individuals shed their blood between 2000 and the present because of violent opposition to the good brought by the Gospel.
Among them was Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, a Claretian missionary who was abducted by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan province in 2000. He was tortured for his faith and killed after 44 days in captivity.
Also remembered are Junrey Barbante, Janine Arenas, Evangeline Aromin, and Riza Daniel, who lost their lives in the bombing at Mindanao State University in Marawi City on December 3, 2023.
The explosion, which took place during a Sunday Mass inside the university gymnasium, was carried out by militants linked to the Islamic State group, who targeted Catholics in the predominantly Muslim city.
In Nueva Ecija, Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez was fatally shot on December 4, 2017, after helping secure the release of a political prisoner from the provincial jail. Known for his lifelong commitment to human rights, social justice, and the welfare of poor and marginalized farmers, Paez dedicated his ministry to serving those most in need.
Alberto Pinagawa, a lay leader and Eucharistic minister from Cagayan de Oro, was killed on December 24, 2009, for his opposition to illegal logging and mining operations in Minanao. A defender of Lumad ancestral lands, Pinagawa had received multiple threats prior to his death for protecting forests and indigenous communities from exploitation.
In 2023, Pope Francis established a special commission to investigate the modern-day killings of Christians and identify those he calls “new martyrs” of the 21st century.
The pope assigned this task to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ Commission on New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith, which is responsible for compiling a global catalogue of Christian witnesses.
The commission seeks to honor those who have given their lives for Christ and to underscore the ongoing reality of martyrdom in the modern world.
In 2024, Pope Francis also encouraged dioceses worldwide to commemorate their own saints, blesseds, and candidates for beatification each November 9.
He emphasized that even those he calls “the saints next door”—individuals recognized for their heroic Christian witness and exemplary holiness—should be included in these celebrations.
The initiative aims to help Catholics reconnect with and preserve the memory of faithful disciples, whose lives continue to inspire holiness and hope within their local communities.